Cutting-edge research will be reviewed, including how epigenetic variation affecting changes in gene expression will create new breeding opportunities. Other topics will cover new genomic technologies, new targets for plant breeders, field testing of new varieties, and integrating genetic improvements with other means of increasing or protecting crop yields and quality.Speakers will come from the universities of Cambridge, Nottingham and Reading, Rothamsted and the plant science industry. Syngenta and DuPont now have integrated plant breeding and agrochemical businesses, taking the multi-disciplinary approach all the way through from invention to the farm. Smaller specialist plant science companies will be represented by Illumina, an American company specialising in genome sequencing technologies and NIAB, involved in developing and evaluating new technologies.